Hola!

My name is Phillip I’m a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist from USA, married to a Spaniard and we have 1 child.  We married in Spain in 2005 in Zamora and live in Dallas and have a piso in Zamora which we stay often throughout the year.  I’m 33 yrs old.

Since the US health care system will possibly decrease our salaries comparable to that of Spain or perhaps close to it (yes it is true), it may be worth working here in beautiful Spain (for sure I’d like to retire here). Less money, less work, so what?  Currently I work in the US.

Please help if you know:
Eventually I’d like to get my Spanish citizenship.  I can get my tarjeta de residencia very easy - but how long do I actually have to LIVE in Spain during the 1 year requirement after establishing “residency”?  Can I come and go - say for example as long as it is not longer than 6 months that I am gone?  Is there a minimum time period that I must stay in Spain each time we come, etc.?  What is the official rule on this so as not to mess up the citizenship process later on?

Thanks in advance!
Phillip

PS - If you are in Salamanca or Zamora, or close to here please message me!  Or also if you live in Madrid and/or have made it through the citizenship process.  I’d love to meet more expats - I don’t know any in Castilla y Leon or Madrid or anywhere!

phillipg,
the eu relative residence permit is for 5 years renewable.
all non eu citizens will soon be computer monitored to determine the how long they really stay in spain.
when you apply for citizenship after completing the one year residence requirement, the police will also check if you really live were you are “empadronado”. if you apply in zamora,  you may get it faster.  you may be required a job contract so that would mean that you will have to stay put. better consult a lawyer.

Anyone know any good lawyers that are inexpensive?

Thanks for the fast reply!
Phillip

You should really look into how much cardiothorasic anasthesiologists make in Spain. I would imagine it’s less than half (in Euros) of what you make in the US. Costs on healthcare in the US aren’t going down any time soon btw, but the increases ought to be curbed by the new bill.

Try getting a hold of the member on the site here called strongabogados for a good lawyer.

around 6.300 ? al mes for a regular anesthesiologist which is fine I don’t have to do cardiothoracic.  this is a lot less than what I make in the US but who cares it is enough to live on and besides I’m thinking that with health care reform - things may not be so good in the future.  Also the dollar is less than the Euro.

Thanks for the advice with the lawyers.

Phillip

phillipg - 14 January 2010 01:44 AM

Anyone know any good lawyers that are inexpensive?

Thanks for the fast reply!
Phillip

I wouldn’t hesitate in pointing you in the direction of Pellicer&Heredia;, they all speak first class English and are the best Abagados that I have used here in SPain contacts are .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 965 480 737

Things can only get better with healthcare reform in the US. Doctors are way overpaid there anyway! 😊